Rail-joint.



Patented Sept. ll, I900.

T. C. CLARKE.

RAIL JOINT.

' (Application filed Feb. 21, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

Patented Sept. II, I900.

T. C. CLARKE.

RAIL JOINT; lApplication filed Pei). 21; '1900.

2 Sheets,-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

m: uomus PETERS co mom-L mo WASHYNBTON', I}. c

NlttliED STATES PATH rrtcn.

THOMAS C. CLARKE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE BONZANO RAIL JOINT COMPANY, OF CAMDEN, NEVV' JERSEY.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,81 1, dated September 11, 1900.

Application filed February 21, 1900. Serial No. 6,050. 140 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. CLARKE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, New York, have invented certain Im provements in Rail-Joints,of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to construct a railway-rail joint whereby the meeting ends of the rails will be rigidly supported against downward pressure and securely confined in proper lateral position without the necessity of. using the ordinary fish-plates with their securing-bolls, nuts, and nut-locks and without the necessity of forming openings in the webs of the rails near the ends of the same for the reception of the securing-bolts.

This object I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a transverse section of a railjoint constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan or top view. Fig. l-lS a transverse section illustrating a special form of joint embodying my invention, and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of part of the same with one of the securing-bolts in section. Figs. 1 and l are on a larger scale than the remaining figures.

Ordinary rail-joints are objectionable because of the number of bolts, nuts, and nutlocks required for each joint and because of the weakening of the rails, which results from the formation of openings in the webs of the rails near each end of each rail for the reception of the transverse bolts, whereby the fish-plates are secured in position.

In carrying out my invention I dispense with the formation of these openings in the webs of the rails, and instead of using for each joint four or six securing-bolts passing through rail-openings and provided with nuts and nut-locks, as usual, I use but a single bolt, nut, and nut-lock, which bolt does not pass through the rail, or in special locations I may use a bolt passing through an opening formed by recesses in the rail ends.

The joint structure comprises two plates 1 1, which are exactly alike, these plates resting upon the ties between which the joint is to be made and spanning the space between said ties, as shown in Fig. 2, each plate being securely confined to the ties vertically by means of spikes driven through openings 2 in the plate.

The flange or base of the rail rests upon and is supported by the inner portions of the laps the outer edge of the base-flange of the.

rail, as shown in Fig. 1. The lips also serve to insure the proper longitudinal alinement of the meeting ends of the rails and prevent any lateral movement of the same.

The outer portion of each plate 1 is bent downward at the center, so as to form a vertical girder 4, which is connected to the horizontal end portions of the plate by means of inclined webs 5, the vertical girders 4. of the plates being drawn together by means of a transverse bolt 6, provided with a nut 7 and nut-locking washer 8 or other nut-locking device of suitable character. By this means that portion of the joint structure which occupies the space between the ties and is directly beneath the meeting ends of the rails presents great resistance to any vertical pressure brought to bear upon it. Hence a properly rigid support for the end portions of the rails is obtained with the use of but a single bolt and nut and without the necessity of forming openings in the webs of the rails. Upon sharp curves it may be necessary to give the increased lateral support to the outer rail, and in this case I use above the lip 3 on the outer side of the rail a brace-plate 9, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, said brace-plate conforming to the base-flange, web, and under side of the head of the rail and being secured in position by a transverse bolt 10 and nut 11, said boltpassing through an opening in the brace-plate and through an opening formed by oval recesses 12 in the ends of the railwebs, as shown in Fig. 5.

To prevent longitudinal movement of the rails due to changes of temperature, it will be advisable to use in connection with my improved railjoints devices whereby each rail maybe securely fastened at or about its longitudinal center to one or more of the ties,

and for this purpose I prefer to use the device shown in A. Bonzanos patent, No. 611,101, dated September 20, 1898.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Paten t- 1. A rail-joint structure comprising baseplates upon which the rails are vertically supported, each plate having horizontal portions for being secured to the ties, a lip for clamping the base-flanges of the rails, and a gi rder formed by bending downward the outer portion of the plate at and near the center thereof, whereby the joint can be made wit-hout forming boltholes in the webs of the rails, substantially as specified.

2. A rail-joint structure'comprising baseplates upon which the rails are vertically sup ported, each of said plates having horizontal portions for being secured to the ties, a clamping-lip for engaging the opposite edges of the base-flanges of the rails, and a girder formed by bending downward the outer portion of the plate at and near the center thereof, and a transverse securing-bolt passing through said downwardly-bent girders whereby the joint can be made without forming bolt-holes iin (tihe webs of the rails, substantially as speci- 3. A rail-joint structure comprising baseplates serving as vertical supports for the ends of the rails, each of said plates having horizontal portions for being secured to the ties, and a clamping-lip for engaging with the base-flanges of the rails,- in combination with a brace-plate on the outer side of the rail, and a transverse bolt passing through said brace-plate and through an opening formed by recesses in the ends of the railwebs and serving to secure the brace-plate laterally to the end portions of the rails, whereby the joint can be made without forming bolt-holes in the webs of the rails, substantially as specified.

4:. A rail-joint structure comprising baseplates serving as vertical supports for the ends of the rails, each of said plates having horizontal portions for being secured to the ties, a clamping-lip for engaging with the base-flange of the rails, and a girder formed by bending downward the outer portion of the plate at and near the center of the same, in combinationwith a brace-plate on the outer side of the rail, and a transverse bolt passing through said base-plate and through an opening formed by recesses in the ends of the railwebs and serving to secure said brace-plate laterally to the end portions of the rails, wherebythe joint can be made without forming bolt-holes in the webs of the rails, substantially as specified.

5. A rail-joint structure comprising baseplates serving as vertical supports for the ends of the rails, each of said plates having horizontal portions for being secured to the ties, a clamping-lip for engaging with the base-flanges of the rails, and a girder formed by bending downward the outer portion of the plate at and near the center of the same, in combination with abrace-plate on the outer side of the rail, a transverse bolt passing through said brace-plate and through an opening formed by recesses in the ends of the rail-webs and serving to secure said braceplate laterally to the end portions of the rails, and a second transverse bolt passing through the girders of the base-plate and serving to confine the same laterally, whereby the joint can be made without forming bolt-holes in the webs of the rails,substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS CLARKE.

Witnesses:

HARRY L. VAUGHAN, BENJ. B. KENYON. 

